The Atlantic Current: The Photo Issue - Nov/Dec 2019

TH E ATLANTI C

Coastal Culture | Palm Beach & Broward County

T H E P H OTO I S S U E

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Nov. - Dec. 2019 | Issue 43

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CONTENTS

T H E P H OTO ISSUE 18 Bahamas With an influx of images showcasing the destruction from Hurricane Dorian, we took the opportunity to put some of the iconic aspects of the Bahamas on display through the work of three local photographers.

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Eye in the Sky Get aerial perspectives from local photographers that prefer a different point of view when showcasing South Florida’s beauty.

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CU R R E NTS 32 Music Matt Brown

36 Sports Kelsey Witkay

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40 Food Elisabetta’s

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Gear Guide Holiday Gift Ideas

46 Snaps Bumblefest

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Cover Photo: Shaye Babb @slimshayedy Model: Alex Lettrich @alettrich

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PUBLISHER Dustin Wright | Dustin@theatlanticcurrent.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Danny Wright | Dan@theatlanticcurrent.com

EDITOR Darien Davies

PUBLICATION DESIGN Richard Vergez

PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Hicks | bocaratonphoto.com

MARKETING MANAGER Alexis Paige

WRITERS Darien Davies David Rolland Sean Gordon

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Shaye Babb Perrin James John Garza Greg Panas Pierce Gainey Christopher Summa Roberto Badillo

ADVERTISING 561-716-6286 | info@theatlanticcurrent.com

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OUR CREDO We believe coastal South Florida is one of the most desirable locations in the world, and we consider it a privilege to highlight and promote everything and everyone that exemplifies our lifestyle. The core of our model is local business partnerships and supporting our community. The amount of local talent is immense, from professional athletes to world class chefs, artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs. This talent deserves recognition, and we make these people and what they do the cornerstone of our content at The Atlantic Current.

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LOCAL N EWS

By Alexis Paige

Nov./Dec. 2019

Art for Abaco Sent Supplies in Style over to the Bahamas Hurricane Dorian hit the hearts of South Floridians almost like their own homes were washed away. “Most of us have been going to the Bahamas for our entire lives and have a lot of friends out there, so there was an intense personal drive to help,” said Lander Talbott, organizer of Art for Abaco.

Many people, organizations, and groups came together to send supplies, prayers, and relief over to the Bahamas, all while adding their own unique touch. One community decided to spray some extra love and faith over to the islands doing so the best way they knew how — through art.

Inspiration came to Talbott when he saw a drawn, spray-painted heart on one of the first rounds of shipping containers. That simple, modest piece of art sparked something inside Talbott, and he immediately started making some calls. By the end of the day, he had artist Dave “DaveL” Lavernia and the McCulley Marine Services on board.

Photo: Alexis Paige

After Dave posted his almost completed 40-foot mural on Instagram, artists immediately began asking how to contribute. That same night, Talbott landed sponsors Don Strube from Florida Paints and McCulley Marine to cover 10 shipping containers, paint and travel costs.

As the sun rose over the marina Sunday morning, a squad of artists transformed once dull shipping containers into moving murals that delivered supplies, hope, and beauty over to Treasure Cay, Man-O-War Cay, and Hope Town.

Photo: David De Souza

Talbott closed with something that truly touches on the core of this mission, saying “The whole experience of the event was moving. Everyone came out smiling and all doing anything needed to help out. There was so much camaraderie throughout this whole week of planning and execution, it was special for sure. There are so many people to thank.“

Boynton Beach is Flourishing Thanks to Community Greening On Saturday, October 5, the urban forestry non-profit, Community Greening, and the City of Boynton gave away 200 trees at Sara Sims Park. The receivers of the seedlings picked from avocado, mango, soursop, sugar apple, paradise tree, simpson stopper, and wild mastic. The family-friendly event featured live music and barbeque food — both from local businesses — which made the event even more unifying.

This giveaway is an example of a shared goal between Community Greening and the City of Boynton to grow a stronger environment in this community.

“Increasing the tree canopy will bring many benefits to Boynton Beach — cleaner and cooler air, reduced flood risk, improved health and wellness, and higher property values,” said Mayor Steven B. Grant.

This day was made possible thanks to the Community Revitalization grant from the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin counties. The grant funds two tree giveaways, a residential tree planting program, a planting at Poinciana Elementary School and an urban orchard, so look out for more botanical beauties around South Florida.

Community Greening has built up a reputation of planting seeds throughout South Florida both physically and mentally around the good of the greens. It’s more than just handing out trees, it’s also about education. “This partnership is going to increase the tree canopy, excite residents about the many benefits of trees, and engage people to take civic action and plant trees to improve our community,” said Mark Cassini, Community Greening’s co-founder.

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EVENTS

Pinball For A Cause Gala @ Silver Ball Museum — Delray

ater — WPB

@ Crazy Uncle Mikes — Boca

Palm Beach Photographic Centre Presents “Never Forget: Every Day Is Veteran’s Day”

ater — Delray

Stall 4 @ Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

Station Sessions

MATHEWS BREWING COMPANY TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY — Lake Worth It seems like Mathews Brewing Co. in Lake Worth has been delivering awesome brews and killer live music for more than two years, right? Join the legion of Mathews fans for their Two Year Anniversary Celebration on December 7 and 8, where they’ll be rocking out with live music from six bands including Spred The Dub, Guavatron, and Girlfriend Material — just to name a few. All beers will be $5, which can be soaked up with delicious eats from food trucks like Little Moir’s Food Trailer and more. www.mathewsbrewingcompany.com

@ Elizabeth Ave Station — WPB

Comedy Night @

Barrel of Monks Brewing — Boca

The Lauren Anderson Band @ The Arts Garage — Delray

November 1

Free Friday Concert Series @ Old School Square — Delray

Dave Mathews Tribute Band @

Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

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Ranse Jones Classic Afternoon Party feat. Uproot Hootenanny @ Bru’s Room — Deerfield

Roots of a Rebellion @ Guanabanas —

Jupiter

The Smokin’ Aces @ Crazy Uncle Mikes — Boca

The People Upstairs @ Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

Lagoon Fest!

Underwater Dive Clean-Up Event @ Lake Worth Lagoon

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Wildfire Bands @ Arts Garage — Delray

3 District Farmers Market Brunch Bazaar @ Grandview Public Market — WPB

My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult @ Respectables — WPB

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The Black Keys @ BB&T Center

Arts Garage Comedy Night — Delray

6 College Night @ Prosperity Brewers — Boca

of Palm Beach County @ Kelsey Theater — Lake Park

Crazy Fingers @ Fish Depot — Boynton (every Thursday)

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Miami Beach Pop Festival feat.

Chance The Rapper, Jack Johnson, The Raconteurs, Leon Bridges, Maggie Rogers, The Roots, Margo Price 8 Free Friday Concert Series @ Old School Square Pavilion feat. Wolf Pack — Delray

Wine Down Wednesdays @

JM and the Sweets @ Voltaire —

Steamhorse Brewing — WPB

WPB

7 The Funeral: A Comedy Fundraiser for The Arc

Tand @ Guanabanas — Jupiter

Palm Beach VegFest @ Meyer Amphithe-

Deep Fried Funk

Chris Kattan: Baby, Don’t Hurt Me Tour @ Crest The-

DEC. 7-8

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Uproot Hootenanny

@ ER Bradley’s — WPB

9-10 Signature Cornell Art Museum Fundraising Event @ Old School Square — Delray

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Rezen 8 @ Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

Leaether Strip @ Respectable Street — WPB

Victoria Leigh (11am) and Josh Heinrichs and Skillinjah (9pm) @ Guanabanas — Jupiter

FAU vs FIU @ FAU

Stadium — Boca

Krazy Train @ Crazy

Uncle Mikes — Boca

Big Rock Band @

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Pearl and the Oysters, The Dewars, DirtBike and more @ Voltaire

— WPB

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20th Anniversary Party Weekend @

The Duck Tavern — Boca

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The Chili Poppers

@ 3rd and 3rd — Delray

Jane Rose and the Deadend Boys — Guanabanas

Army Gideon @

Crazy Uncle Mikes — Boca

The Purple Madness: A Tribute to Prince @ The Tin Roof

— Delray

Intendencia and Humble Waters @ DADA — Delray

Columbia vs Peru Soccer @ Hard Rock Stadium

Shock Illusionist Dan Sperry @ Kelsey Theater — Lake Park

Soulfam @ Voltaire — WPB

Bobby Nathan @ Fish Depot — Boynton

Boston’s on the Beach — Delray

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EVENTS Photo: Diego Pernía

Roots Shakedown @ 3rd and 3rd — Delray

Dumpstaphunk @ Funky Biscuit — Boca

Max Markwell (4pm) and Joe Friday Band (8pm)

@ Fish Depot — Boynton

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Duwayne Burnside @ Arts Garage

DEC. 21

— Delray

WINTER CRAFT BEER GARDEN @ OLD SCHOOL SQUARE — Delray It’s that time again for some holiday beer cheer by the iconic 100-foot Christmas Tree in Delray Beach. Chances are you’ll be in need of a few with the holiday madness in full swing, so cruise by Old School Square for a full bar, food vendors and of course a big selection of local and national craft beer. The event is free to get in and beer tickets are all $5 a piece. www.dbcraftbeerfest.org

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Civil Society 4-Year Anniversary Block Party

— Jupiter

Bark Back Event w/ 16 Bands @ Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

LOTOS Music Festival @ Mizner Park Amphitheater feat. Method Man & Redman, DMX, Naughty By Nature, Coolio & more

The Rust Market and Sprockets & Spokes Custom Bike Show @ Lake Park Arts District

Coco Montoya @ Arts Garage — Delray

56 Ace @ Boston’s on the Beach — Delray

17 Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Three Brained Robot, GutterTones @

Voltaire — WPB Classic Albums Live: Led Zeppelin 20 IV @ Old School Square Scott Guberman Pavilion — Delray of Phil Lesh and

Friends @ Crazy Uncle Henry Cho @ Kelsey Mikes — Boca

Theater — Lake Park

Denny Laine Trio @ Funky Biscuit — Boca

Aldo Marchant (4pm) and Sex Cells (8pm) @ Fish Depot — Boynton

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Uproot Hootenanny @ Village Pump —

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

Station Sessions: Open Mic Night @

Elizabeth Ave — WPB

The Drifters @ Old School Square — Delray

Scott Guberman of Phil Lesh and Friends @ Crazy Uncle Mikes — Boca

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Mona Lisa Tribe, The Helmsmen, Johan Danno & Perigee @ Voltaire —

WPB

Colt Ford @ Abacoa

Amphitheater — Jupiter

Sowflo @ Crazy Uncle

Mikes — Boca

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Girlfriend Material

@ Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

Casey Turner (4pm) and John Papa Gros (9pm) @ Guanabanas — Jupiter

27 Thanksgiving Eve Throwdown feat.

Uproot Hootenanny @ The Irishman — Boca

December 1

A Sunday Kinda Blues @ Brewhouse Gallery — Lake Park

5th Annual Hang 20 Surf Dog Classic and Holiday Beach Bash @ Carlin Park — Jupiter

4 Voodoo Visionary @ Guanabanas — Jupiter

5 100 Foot Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony @ Old School Square — Delray

6 Uproot Hootenanny @ Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

29-30 First Annual Tim Reynolds TR3 Mighty Maxgiving @ Funky Biscuit — Boca @ Arts Garage — Delray

East Harbor 29 @ Guanabanas — Jupiter Holy Dances w/

Brett Staska, Free Friday ConBitter Blue Jays, certs: JM and the Analog Sweets @ Old School @ Voltaire — WPB

Square — Delray

Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

Uncle Mikes — Boca

The Flyers @

Free Friday Concerts: The Fabulous Fleetwoods @ Old School Square — Delray

Station Sessi ons: Stand Up Showcase

@ Elizabeth Ave — WPB

30 FAU vs Southern Miss @ FAU Stadium — Boca

Brass Knucklehead @ 3rd and 3rd — Delray

Perfect Strangers @ Fish Depot — Boynton

Jacuzzifuzz @ Crazy

VTF Project, Koffin Varnish, Makoto, Off Orbit @ Voltaire — WPB

Jake Walden Band & Joel DaSilva @ Kelsey Theater — Lake Park

7-8 Mathews Brewing Company 2 Year Anniversary Party — Lake Worth 7 Perry Straight Album Release Party @ Guanabanas — Jupiter

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EVENTS

Tand @ Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

Revibe @ Fish Depot — Boynton

Rosario Craig Band @ Boston’s on the Beach — Delray

27 Freakbass @ Guanabanas — Jupiter

B-Side Band

@ Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

Stand Up Showcase

NYE CELEBRATION @ GUANABANAS — Jupiter Nobody does a party like Guanabanas, so why not bring in the New Year at one of the best bar, restaurant, and live music venues in South Florida? Guavatron, Tand, and Of One Mind will be performing live starting at 8 p.m., but come early so you can get your fix of fresh seafood beforehand! No cover (ever) and the event is 21+. www.guanabanas.com

@ Elizabeth Ave — WPB

West Palm Beach Arts Festival @ Ar-

Town of Jupiter Christmas Parade

@ Respectable Street — WPB

mory Art Center — WPB

@ Old Dixie Highway

Barrel of Monks Brewing Christmas Party

4th Annual Carols

By Candlelight @ Old School Square Pavilion — Delray

The Flyers @ Boston’s on the Beach — Delray

Beautiful Bobby Blackmon and the B3 Band Returns @ Arts Garage — Delray

Burnt Biscuit and Girlfriend Material @ Fish Depot — Boynton

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4th Annual Empty Bowls to raise money for hunger relief in Palm Beach County @ Old School Square — Delray

Mod 27: Palm Beach County’s longest running improv co. @ Arts

Crazy Fingers @

Garage — Delray

Boston’s on the Beach — Delray (every Sunday)

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Palm Beach International Mini Movie and Film Festival @ Norton Museum of Art — WPB

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Dr. Bacon @ Guanabanas — Jupiter

Holiday Street Parade @ Mizner Park

Station Sessions

@ Elizabeth Ave — WPB

48th Annual Holiday Boat Parade @ Veteran’s Park — Delray

Pure Honey #100: Pleasures, Spirit and the Cosmic Heart, Sweet Bronco @ Voltaire — WPB

— Boca

Coppertones @

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Mathews Brewing — Lake Worth

Honey Island Swamp Band @

Funky Biscuit — Boca

Musician’s Open Mic @ Brewhouse Gallery — Lake Park

Sherry Davey’s Bipolar Express

@ Kelsey Theater — Lake Park

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DeadPhish Orchestra @ Funky

Biscuit — Boca

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Holiday Burlesque @ Kelsey Theater —Lake Park

Breeze Classic Rock @ Boston’s on the Beach — Delray

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Tail Dragger Blues Band @ Arts

Garage — Delray

43rd Annual Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade 19

Station Sessions: Open Mic Night @

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Litmas 4

Classic Albums Live: The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band @ Old School Square — Delray

Spred The Dub @ Fish Depot — Boynton

29-30

Brothers and Sisters Annual Holiday Jam Celebrating The Music of the Allman Brothers @ Funky

Elizabeth Ave — WPB

Biscuit — Boca

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Free Friday Concerts: Higher Ground @ Old School

Square — Delray

Peace of Woodstock @ Arts Garage — Delray

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Winter Craft Beer Garden @ Old School

Square — Delray

New Year’s Eve BASH feat. Guavatron, Tand, Of One Mind @ Guana-

banas – Jupiter

Visit our calendar at theatlanticcurrent.com for more upcoming events.

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“BEING BASED IN SOUTH FLORIDA, I FEEL PRETTY LUCKY TO BE A HOP AND A SKIP AWAY FROM THE BAHAMAS. I’VE TRAVELED TO EVERY CLEAR-WATER LOCATION IN THE WORLD AND THE BAHAMAS IS UP THERE WITH THE BEST! BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO CREATES MANY OF MY IMAGES BELOW THE SURFACE, IT’S KEY TO HAVE CLEAR, EMERALD BLUE WATERS. SO MANY NOOKS AND CRANNIES TO DISCOVER THROUGHOUT ALL THE BAHAMAS!”

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“GOSH I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN SUM UP ALL THE MAGIC OF THE BAHAMAS...BUT I KNOW THERE IS NOT A SINGLE THING I DON’T LIKE ABOUT THE ISLANDS. FROM THE PEOPLE TO THE BEINGS IN THE SEA, EVERYTHING IS AMAZING. MY FAVORITE DIVES AND MY FAVORITE GROUP OF FINNED MISFITS ARE IN BAHAMIAN WATERS. I SAY ANY OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TO GO OVER THERE, DO IT! PLUS, WITH THE DEVASTATING IMPACT HURRICANE DORIAN HAD ON THE ISLANDS, THEY CAN USE ALL THE TOURISM THEY CAN GET.”

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“THE BAHAMAS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED FOR ME, IT’S WHERE I PUT A MASK ON MY FACE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE TURQUOISE WATERS THAT MAKE IT ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE ISLAND CHAINS IN THE WORLD.”

Please consider donating to the various Bahamas relief efforts.

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Photos: Chris Carter

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CURRENT | MUSIC

MAT T BROWN Prolific Multi-Instrumentalist Brings the Soul

BY DAVID ROLLAND

W

hen Matt Brown rattles off what he’s been up to lately, you wonder how the local soul, funk, and R&B musician has the time to conduct this interview. Besides keeping to the strict schedule of writing, producing and releasing a new single the third Friday of every month, and gigging as a solo artist, Brown is part of not one, not two, but three musical groups, along with being an integral member of the artist collective, SoulFam. Brown lives and breathes music, and said his September single, “All I Need,” was about that subject. “In the song I list a lot of things people want. But there’s always one passion people need. For me it’s music,” Brown said.

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@atlanticcurrent

Photos: Alexis Paige Brown’s love for melodies might have been genetic. “My dad’s a jazz pianist. I’d hear him playing when I woke up and I’d imitate what he did,” he said. At a young age, he joined the family in a church band, where his dad played the organ, his brother was on drums, and his aunt was on keys. Brown was assigned bass after his dad took away his guitar for only playing on the low E string.

Outside of church, Matt was more into playing sports than music, until he graduated from Royal Palm Beach Community High School.

Once he became a college student, he thought he could make performing music into a career. “My friend taught me how to produce beats,” Brown said. “It got me excited about creating original songs

>>

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CURRENT | MUSIC

rather than playing the same old church or jazz songs. We started a rap group in 2008 called D-Cypes.”

D-Cypes might have been the first, but it wasn’t the last collaboration Brown has been a part of. Since 2012, he fronted Making Faces, a rock, reggae and funk band from West Palm Beach that he describes as “definitely a party band.” Last year he started Mood Swing, a soul trio for which he plays bass and keys. “Mood Swing plays so many different types of things from Bob Marley to ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’” Brown said. “It’s fun taking a genre I’m not familiar with into something I like. We turn rock into our soul, funk, disco sound.”

Most recently he formed Wazzyday with Drew Dockerill where he is providing vocals backed by electronic hard-hitting beats. It’s with Wazzyday that Brown released his song for October, “Set You Free,” which he describes as, “It’s about when you’re with someone where you can be yourself. We mostly think of freedom when you’re away from someone, this is about the freedom when you find someone.”

Beyond the number of musical outfits Brown is a part of, the sheer number of instruments he can play is beyond impressive. Though he focuses mostly on bass and piano for his songwriting, he has trouble keeping track of how many other instruments he’s proficient on. “I

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can play whatever I need to play. Guitar, drums, a little bit of saxophone and trumpet,” Brown said. “I was teaching music at a school.

They asked if I could teach violin. I sat down with YouTube and learned the basics. I was able to teach the kids a couple songs after a week.” He’s yet to incorporate any violin playing into his live shows or his recordings, but said if he could, “that would be awesome.”

For now, you’ll have to catch him playing his trusty bass guitar with a pawn shop tag hanging from its neck, which is a nod to when his bass was stolen and he had to buy it back from a pawn shop. He’ll be playing with SoulFam on Friday, November 15 for their quarterly party titled “The Getdown,” which he says will be “an indoor house party with the vibe of a house party.”

With all the bands, songs and instruments, is he overwhelmed with what he might play? “No, I love to learn new songs. I try to do as many songs as I can each time. Remembering lyrics is my biggest challenge. Sometimes I make up a lot of words,” he laughed. It’s going to take a lot more than remembering lyrics to slow down one of West Palm’s busiest musicians. @mattbrown.music

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CURRENT | SPORTS

KELSEY WITKAY A Swimmer’s Service

BY SEAN GORDON

Photos: Alexis Paige

K

elsey Witkay is not only a senior at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) who is studying exercise science, but she is also the captain of the women’s swim team. “I actually hated the pool until I was 6,” said Witkay, which is not the story of origin you might expect when talking to a collegiate swimmer. “It was because I didn’t have goggles. Once I figured that out it kind of stuck.” Shortly after discovering goggles, Witkay joined her first team at age 7 and has been competitive in the water ever since. A self-proclaimed warm-blooded beach girl from the West Coast, Witkay decided a change of scenery for her college career would do her some good.

“I remember thinking, if I don’t leave California now, I probably never will,” she said. So, she packed up and moved across the country to attend FAU.

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She has built quite a resume for herself in the pool coming into her senior season, including recording numerous Top 10 finishes each of her past three seasons and being a part of the group that set the team freshmen record for the 400 Medley Relay. Witkay mainly competes in the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter freestyle events, with her crowning achievement coming last year at Conference. “I had never scored individually for the team before,” Witkay said. “I switched my event from 100 Fly to 200 Freestyle and I was able to score for the first time ever at Conference.”

Witkay’s accolades outside the pool may be even more impressive.

She’s been awarded the Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal and named to the Honor Roll her freshmen, >>

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theatlanticcurrent.com

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CURRENT | SPORTS

sophomore, and junior years. Just recently she was given the honor of receiving the C-USA Spirit of Service Award, which is awarded to the student athlete who best embodies dedication to community service and academic standing.

Playground and the FOBISIA Friendly Games, she’s decided to switch her focus and pursue sports marketing. “I really loved the creativity and freedom of being able to come up with new ideas every day,” she said.

She was nominated for the award by her peers after returning from a trip to Cape Town, South Africa as a part of the Student-Athletes Abroad program. She spent three weeks in South Africa volunteering in the marketing department with a nonprofit group called Project Playground, which is a charitable organization that uses recreation and sports to empower vulnerable children and youth in the area.

During her stay, Witkay had more than 80 hours of community service, and she continued this mission by selling Project Playground bracelets back in Florida. She currently serves as an ambassador for Student-Athletes Abroad and spent another three weeks in Phuket, Thailand working with The Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA). There she managed the FOBISIA Friendly Games, which brings athletes together for several days to compete in a variety of sports.

Witkay keeps a pretty busy schedule. Between practice, her ongoing community service, acting as President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and maintaining a full class schedule, it’s amazing she’s able to find time for it all. With one year left in her tenure at FAU, she has set some lofty goals for herself and her fellow student athletes. Her main goals are to not only help her team take home the coveted Owl Cup, which factors in the GPA, community service, and career development attendance for each athletic team on campus, but to also have the student athlete community reach 5,000 service hours. On top of all that, she and the Lady Owls hope to make a splash in Conference USA.

During her trips, Witkay was able to use her background in athletics to support some amazing groups, and, along the way, also became inspired to follow a new career path. Fueled by her work with Project

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It seems Kelsey Witkay has come a long way from hating the pool, which is great news for anyone who knows her. She’s helping to make a positive difference through service, one lap at a time, and the future is bright. @lil_wittt

CURRENT | FOOD

ELISABET TA’S Elevated Italian, Made Comfortable

BY DARIEN DAVIES

E

lisabetta’s is what Italian food should be. It’s inviting, comforting, and meant to be shared with friends, family, and even those hungry for camaraderie. The dishes are handmade, the portions are plenty, and the menu is vast, making it a restaurant that requires multiple visits to even attempt to get a mouth full of deep-rooted passion for Italian cuisine.

“In order for us to replicate the things we love the most about Italian food and cooking, we had to make these things ourselves by hand,” said Lisabet Summa, executive culinary director at Big Time Restaurant Group and Elisabetta’s namesake. “That is the thing that informs and dignifies the cuisine and sets it apart from everyday, common Italian dishes.”

A native of Chicago, Summa’s culinary inspiration came from her mother and grandmother, and she took a leap and worked a modest job as a line cook at a Chicago diner while attending the Goodman School of Drama.

When a friend returned from attending a European cooking school, Summa’s culinary sights were raised and she decided to trade the stage for a kitchen.

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Photo: Christopher Summa @ATLANTICCU R R E NT

Photo: Gerry Rabinowitz TH EATLANTICCU R R E NT.COM

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CURRENT | FOOD

Photos: Christopher Summa She selected the French restaurant, Alouette, as her introduction to haute cuisine, where she volunteered to work for free as the only non-French and non-male kitchen staff member. But, the tactic worked and she quickly won them over, allowing her to earn her first chef’s coat a week later. Her next move was to Chicago’s acclaimed French restaurant, Maxim’s Restaurant, as the pastry chef, before making her way to Florida where she not only shared kitchens with famous chefs, but also taught at the Florida Culinary Institute before joining the Big Time Restaurant Group.

When Summa was drawing inspiration for Elisabetta’s, she didn’t have to look far, as one of the Group’s 18 restaurants, Louie Bossi’s, was her main inspiration. She created the menu in collaboration with Louie Bossi, but included more vegetable-centric dishes, including the pinzimonio appetizer, made with gorgonzola crema, salsa verde and pesto aioli.

“Elisabetta’s menu is versatile enough to have a casual meal or a more extensive course-style Italian meal so people can have a range of experiences,” Summa said. “Elisabetta’s can be more like an osteria, where guests can have wine and salumi and cheese, or guests can have a trattoria-style meal, or a full blown ristorante experience with several courses starting with a primi, sharing a pasta, and having a secondi, and an offering from the wood burning grill. My favorite is our bone out chicken dish served on a thick slice of our artisan bread to catch all of the juices.”

As you can imagine, her life is centered around studying the culinary arts. She is constantly cultivating her green thumb and currently has radicchio seeds ready for her Italian vegetable garden. When

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she’s not at work or traveling for delicious research purposes, she’s either entertaining the Italian way (casual meals at home with a few courses featuring salumi, cheese, loads of vegetables, a protein cooked on a wood-burning grill, and Italian cookies and coffee for dessert) or spending time as a sewist, making linen aprons for her sous chefs and friends. But, overall, it’s about food: how to make it, how to serve it, and how to best enjoy it.

“Everything we can make by hand we do, from the salumi, to the dry aged steaks, to the pastas, gelatos and artisan bread,” said Summa, who says that they use locally available produce but import tomatoes, olive oil, cheeses and flour because it’s essential for her dishes. “As you cook, everything you make has a personal spin. If you try too hard to recreate a dish and don’t use the abundance of what’s around you, the taste will probably come out a little thin. By cooking seasonally and including some imported Italian ingredients, we’re exemplifying the traits of a traditional Italian cuisine - simple, local, farm-fresh traditional techniques.”

So stop in, hang out, and enjoy a slice of the Italian good life.

Elisabetta’s is dishing out some of the most seasonally-focused and authentic Italian cuisine this side of the Atlantic, and everyone is welcome to indulge. Mangia.

32 E. Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach @elisabettas_delray

T H E P H OTO I S S U E

GEAR GUIDE

Olukai Available at olukai.com and Nomad Surf Shop

Alapa Li (Clay/Mustang) $100

$95

YETI

Hydro Flask

Available at yeti.com

Available at hydroflask.com

Crossroads Tote 16 (Slate Blue)

$179.99

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Nohea Moku Sharkskin/Sharkskin

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35 L Insulated Tote (Grapefruit) $74.95

PELICAN

NOMAD

Available at Pelican.com

Available at Nomad Surf Shop

Photo: Stacy O’nell

S115 Sport Camera Backpack $341.95

BEN HICKS X NOMAD Available at Nomad Surf Shop

Nomad Custom Single Fin 6’0” x 20” x 2 1/2”

Bahamas Relief Performance T $39.95 ($40.95 for XXL) Proceeds Go To Bahamas Relief

MORA Available at Mora Surf Boutique

Liquid Sugar Sweater $52.00

$1,650

TH EATLANTICCU R R E NT.COM

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CURRENT | SNAPS

BUMBLEFEST

WEST PALM BEACH | PHOTOS: ROBERTO BADILLO

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LUNCH - BRUNCH - LATE NIGHT

UPCOMING MUSIC

11/1: The Groove 8pm 11/2: Rob Arenth 4pm 11/3: Mark Telesca Band 6pm 11/8: Revibe 8pm 11/15: Bounce 8pm 11/22: Spred the Dub 8pm

11/29: Bobby Nathan 8pm 12/7: Girlfriend Material 8pm 12/13: Bounce 8pm 12/20: Bombshell 8pm 12/21: ReVibe 8pm 12/28: Spred the Dub 8pm

Visit Our Facebook Page For Event Updates

Tuesday Night: Karaoke & In The Biz Night (50% OFF Drinks and Appetizers not including raw bar - ITB only)

Wednesday Night: Ladies Night

Come between 8-10pm and collect 2 drink tickets

Thursday Night: Crazy Fingers Find us at Pirate Fest for FREE drink tickets!

HOURS Tuesday - Thursday: 4pm - 12am • Friday: 4pm - 2am • Saturday: 12pm - 2am Sunday: 12pm - 12am • Coming Soon: NEW MENU ITEMS THE FISH DEPOT MARKET

THE FISH DEPOT BAR & GRILL

1022 N Federal Hwy, Boynton Beach, FL 33435 (Just North of the Marina Districtand South of Gateway)

511 NE 4th Street Boynton Beach, FL 33435 (Very 1st left turn on Federal Hwy offof Boynton Beach Blvd.)

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561.375.8363

561.806.5441

Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm

Open Sun-Thurs 12pm-12am, Fri-Sat 12-2am

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www.thefishdepot.net